My word of the year.

Since reading Eat, Pray, Love I have been pondering, and liking, the idea of a word for the year - instead of a resolution.

I have been thinking on this quite a bit. I know other people, like Meriel, and Sandi use words for the year too.

It's kind of like an abbreviated affirmation of sorts, or a mantra.

I have battled to come up with a word though. One which really covers it. I have thought of:
BREATHE - this was a strong contender. In all situations remember to just breathe!
LOVE - this is good, but doesn't cover everything, and the year is long and multi-faceted.
ACCEPT - hrm... yes and no. Some things are unacceptable. So no.
ACHIEVE - Yes there are things I wants to achieve, but it is not my main focus.
RISK - Yes I want to take risks, but not put myself or my family at risk. It just doesn't feel right.
TRUST - this is a biggie for me. I do not trust easily. I am not sure I can or should trust. I want to, but something stops me....

I have finally settled on a very unexpected word, but I think I like it. It is quite out of character, but I think it is time for a change and for me to alter my usual ways and try something new. Not all of what I have been doing and how I have been thinking and reacting has worked for me. Perhaps it is time for me to open myself to new possibilities now, and so my word for 20-zen is....

FAITH

Are you surprised? I certainly was! ... but I kept coming back to it.

Here are the definitions and reasons for the choice.

faith

–noun

1.	confidence or trust in a person or thing: faith in another's ability.

2.	belief that is not based on proof: He had faith that the hypothesis would be substantiated by fact.

3.	belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion: the firm faith of the Pilgrims.

4.	belief in anything, as a code of ethics, standards of merit, etc.: to be of the same faith with someone concerning honesty.

5.	a system of religious belief: the Christian faith; the Jewish faith.

6.	the obligation of loyalty or fidelity to a person, promise, engagement, etc.: Failure to appear would be breaking faith.

7.	the observance of this obligation; fidelity to one's promise, oath, allegiance, etc.: He was the only one who proved his faith during our recent troubles.

8.	Christian Theology. the trust in God and in His promises as made through Christ and the Scriptures by which humans are justified or saved.

—Idiom

9.	in faith, in truth; indeed: In faith, he is a fine lad.

So for me faith is the inner attitude, conviction, or 'trust' that everything will be ok, and that it is ok to relax, to allow people in and to let people to love and help me. Yes, I can do it alone, but life is richer when shared with others.

I have faith in myself, my family, my friends and my abailities. I am faithful.

Faith is in general the persuasion of the mind that a certain statement is true.

“Faith is a knowledge within the heart, beyond the reach of proof.” ~ Kahlil Gibran